Iraqis celebrate culture at festival

For many members of the Iraqi community taking part in the fifth annual Mesopotamian Festival, it was a lot like coming home.
“We miss our family we had to leave behind,” says artist Ahmad Nasir, whose many paintings inspired by his home country were on display Saturday at the Iraqi Canadian Society of Ontario's event at St. Joseph Secondary School. “When we come to this festival each year, it feels like we are home.”  
Fellow painter Haneen Dalla Ali, 16, agreed.
“I moved from Iraq when I was in Grade 2," she said. "Looking around at all the people here does make you think of home.”
When speaking of the differences between Iraq and Canada, Ali doesn’t speak of culture, but of the weather. Standing beside one of her paintings reflecting the warm temperatures of her native land, complete with palm trees, she says the weather here, “takes a lot of getting used to!”
Dr. Falah Hafuth, director of the Canadian-Iraqi Association, says the Mesopotamian Festival is about bringing the Iraqi community together.
“There are about 20,000 Iraqis living in Ontario," he said. "We’re a very small community and need to support each other. Canada has been very welcoming to us on a whole, and our festival is about celebrating our heritage. Anybody is welcome.”
The festival, which ran from noon to 10 p.m., included poetry readings, folklore dancing, music, exhibits, art displays, and food. Dolma (rice wrapped in grape leaves), simosas and falafels were among the tasty offerings.
Aya Alkadhimi, an event organizer, came dressed in native costume.
“This is the biggest organization for the Iraqi people in Mississauga," she said. "It’s important for people from other ethnicities and generations within the Iraqi community to meet.”
Born in Iraq, Alkadhimi moved here when she was eight.
“Iraq is our home country. But what’s great about coming to Canada is, we still can keep a bit of our culture and mix it with other cultures,” she said. 
“Our country has seen three wars in two decades,” said Nada Jaffar, who moved her family from Iraq to Mississauga 14 years ago. “We’ve all tried to resettle to a safe environment. Days like this send hope to our community that we can explore a sense of our country and show the beauty of it to other people.”

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